Jump Start House

The News Tribune (of Washington State) recently ran an article titled "Jump Start: Helping young moms set sail". This article describes the Jump Start house as "one of a very few in Pierce County designed especially for young pregnant women and their babies." It can house "up to four 18- to 25-year-old women who are either pregnant or have children" but is often full and turns away more than a dozen requests for housing each month.

Just like other maternity homes (see our previous post about maternity homes), there are rules:

• "Residents must pay a third of their income for rent, whether that comes from state welfare benefits or job earnings."
• "They’re also responsible for buying their own food, though they typically qualify for food stamps."
• "They must participate in weekly “house group” gatherings and individual meetings with case manager Seyler."
• "They must go to school or work 20 hours a week."
• "The women sign a lease to live in the home for one year, though the stay can be extended for an additional year."
• "They’re also subject to surprise midnight bed checks from case managers."
• "Boyfriends aren’t allowed to stay overnight."

The article concludes with information on other resources in that area: "Lakewood Area Shelter Association provides temporary, transitional and permanent housing and help with rent for people throughout Pierce County, including pregnant women ages 18 to 25. The association also accepts donations of single beds, cribs, dressers, vegetable starts and gardening equipment. For information, call 253-581-8689."

"New Beginnings Home in Puyallup provides housing for pregnant women, including those under 18 if parents make a voluntary placement agreement. For information, call Debi Musick at 253-232-7318."

If your pregnant daughter will be living at home with you during her pregnancy (and/or after the baby is born), you may consider making a contract with her that includes the ideas above. The contract could specify how much rent she will pay to you, her contribution to food and cooking duties, that she must attend counseling meetings once a week at a Pregnancy Help Center, that she must go to school and/or have a job, and other rules. We discuss contracts such as these in the chapter "Should She Parent Alone?" in our book "How To Survive Your Teen's Pregnancy".